The German driver enjoyed a comfortable victory while Brackley team-mate Lewis Hamilton overcame a first-lap collision to finish third. World champion Hamilton started on pole position but made a slow start and then had a clash with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton recovered but was unable to stop Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen from taking second place. Rosberg’s fifth win in a row, on the back of three victories at the end of last season, has seen him open up a 17-point lead in the championship.

Meanwhile, new boys Haas F1 followed up their great start to the sport with Romain Grosjean taking fifth place for the Banbury team. But team-mate Esteban Gutierrez retired from the race.

Kevin Magnussen came 11th for Renault while Enstone team-mate Jolyon Palmer had to retire.